iChat won't run

Mike,

Good detective work!! That is exactly my situation!! 10.4.2 with iChat 3.0. Problem is, I am not ready to go through the pain of having to do another archive and install, lots of trouble to recover application setting and preferences. I lost half my addresses on one of my programs doing that. This is an interesting mess!!

Stu

Stu --

Don't know if this would work, but you might try downloading the 10.4.1 to 10.4.2 updater from the Apple Support site, and see if that will run on your system (even though you're already at 10.4.2).

I was at an Apple retail store recently and noted that their 10.4.1 installations had iChat 3.0 and the 10.4.2 installations had 3.0.1, meaning that iChat update came with the change to 10.4.2.

If the updater will run on your system, it might update your iChat to the correct version. I don't believe Apple has provided a standalone updater for iChat since it's considered part of the operating system.

(As an aside, I was surprised that the Apple retail store still had systems running 10.4.1 and even some with 10.4. I'd think they would be running Software Update on everything on a regular basis!)

Good luck.

Ralph, Mark, John, Everybody!!

I found a cure for this problem that worked for me: First I ran Pacifist against the 10.4 DVD to make sure I had iChat 3.0. Then, as Mark suggested, I got the 10.4.1 to 10.4.2 upgrade and ran Pacifist, and told it to UPGRADE, my existing 3.0 with the upgrade that you would get if you went from 10.4.1 to 10.4.2. My iChat is now working!! However, the icon in the dock is not an iChat icon, it is one of the generic Apples. I will reboot to see if that gets fixed. "About iChat" shows "iChat AV 3.0.1 (v392)" - whatever all that means. Anyhow, success!!

Stu

Stu -

That is the same vesion and build number I have for iChat AV that is working with 10.4.2. If it's of any help, my iChat AV about box also notes: InstantMessage framework v356.

Mike

OK, I have been following the discussion since I have the same problem too. I was having Mail issues so I was told to do an Archive and Install to fix it from Tech Support. That didnt fix the mail issue but it did screw up my iChat also. Now I fixed mail but ichat is still screwy.

I tried to re-update with the 10.4.2 updater but still didnt work. Anyone else have any ideas? Is there a 3.0.1 seperate update anywhere?

matt

OK so in my meager attempts at iChat I think I have found a solution atleast for those of us who lost iChat function when we Archive and Installed. In the "Previous System" folder that the Archive and Install leaves you in your Home Folder, there is a folder of Applications. In that Apps folder is my old copy of iChat which is actually 3.0.1 not the 3.0 that I was trying to get to work. I deleted the "new" iChat and replaced it with the 3.0.1 version and now everything works.

There should be a patch for this Apple!!

Good Luck.

Matt

I hope there will be o solution, soon.
Same prob here !

Edit: just solved the problem by installing the single 10.4.2 update !
Now i'got the iChat 3.0.1 🙂, which works.

Hi Mark,

Sorry about the delay.

Yes I did mean did the cards agree Or could you remember what name you enter in the Mac account set up and was it the same as you were using in iChat.

Anyhow, glad to hear you have a fix.

Ralph

Hi Oro Valley Dude,

Gald to hear you sorted this.

Ralph

Scott,

Check the size of the iChat application. It should be 20 to 21MB on disk.

If it is around 6MB you will have to reinstall it.

Did you also trash the iChat Preferences files?

Ed

Dear Matt,

YOU ARE A GREAT! This solution works - I was having the same problems everyone else was, and I was at wit's end. I looked up the topic in the discussion area, and stumbled upon this topic.

Matt, thank you for figuring this out. I wish Apple would take not, and release an offical help document case number. This seems to be a big problem, and hopefully will be fixed soon.

Thanks again,

Fred